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Notice under “Managing dependency”, the focus is exclusively on technological solutions. There is no technological solution to this. We have the equivalent of

• array_key_first 1y ago
  We actually don't know that there isn't a solution to gluttony, addiction, and other self-destructive and compulsive behaviors. The brain is somewhat stupid and can be tricked by very primitive things, like bright lights. We might also be able to un-trick it, maybe with medication. That's kind of what were seeing with GLP-1 agonists.
  • r14c 1y ago
    We know how to cure addiction though, and its really low tech. People (and rats) with adequate social lives and decent living conditions are able to consistently overcome addiction. In fact, addiction has come to be understood as a coping mechanism for living in an unpleasant environment. Imo the issue with phones is really a symptom of our lack of leisure time, pleasant outside settings, and affordable third places.
    • actionfromafar 1y ago
      It helps, but many prefer the phonecrack despite having access to all that.
      • array_key_first 1y ago
        IMO it could be a matter of perspective. I think a lot of people turn to phonecrack instead of their social lives because they think phonecrack is their social lives. They've been told it's good, it's community, it's social. And maybe it was at one point. But it's not anymore. There are no social media sites left, only media sites.
    • solumunus 1y ago
      It’s very obviously not that simple.
      • chownie 1y ago
        It seems that simple to me. Do you have a rationalisation for your disagreement, or is this a throw away comment you don't care about?
        • plastic3169 1y ago
          There is a new book by Owen Flanagan ”What is it like to be an addict”[0] where he goes through the phenomenon of addiction from many different angles and argues that rat park type findings are true but only give partial view to the problem. His view is that it is very multifaceted subject and can’t be understood or tackled with any one easy fix. [0]https://academic.oup.com/book/59281 https://academic.oup.com/book/59281
          • r14c 1y ago
            Idk what part of "make society affordable for everyone and ensure that everyone has access to adequate care and social support" sounds like an easy fix.
            • plastic3169 1y ago
              That’s a good goal and I think we should aim for that regardless if it fixes addiction. I would not call it easy though. And would it be world without addicts? There are plenty of well connected rich social happy folks who can’t handle simple molecules. Environment is part of the usage pattern but it’s not the only thing. That’s the books point I gather.
              • chownie 1y ago
                You have taken the point someone else made and run somewhere else with it, so I will reiterate it. > People (and rats) with adequate social lives and decent living conditions are able to consistently overcome addiction I don't think it's about riches, or power, or having friends. It is purely about how many stressors you have to deal with, how often and with how much reprieve you have available. More money can give more reprieve, it usually means more stressors too. The more subtle point I guess is that it is not how much you have, it is the shape of your life and how each day feels. Use the example of far northern countries. People who live in dark countries drink more, and they drink even more the darker it gets. The modern era says that the answer should be more mindfulness, more cognitive behavioural therapy, I think GP is saying we should be giving them sunlight which is clearly what they actually need. Substitute sunlight for whatever thing your locale is currently not managing well.
• superkuh 1y ago
  It is not like 'unlimited crack' because that is a chemically addictive substance that bypasses any need for stimuli enjoyment and directly increases wanting. Multi-media screens do not and cannot do this. Can we agree on that? Science does. At the very least they have to initially be intrinsically rewarding. They are a very different kind of stimuli and pretending they are chemical drugs that immediately bypass perception and directly cause wanting is dangerous misinformation. I am not saying people don't have problems. But this is not at all an addiction like chemical addictions. Applying chemical addiction paradigms will lead to the same calls for use of government violence in regulation. An outcome far more damaging than the situation.
  • idle_zealot 1y ago
    Ok, it's not crack. Not chemical, just social. It's like a hyper-optimized version of gambling. Slot machines in everyone's pockets. Or am I not allowed to make that comparison either, because the government regulates that too? Wouldn't want to accidentally call for government violence.
    • superkuh 1y ago
      You can compare it to gambling disorder, certainly. Just stop comparing it to chemical drugs. That's dangerous misinformation.
      • lijok 1y ago
        > That's dangerous misinformation. Can you elaborate?
• whycome 1y ago
  Government mandated rehab
• skeezyjefferson 1y ago
  > We have the equivalent of unlimited crack in everyone’s pocket 24/7 i think you might be slightly overreacting there bud. and smartphones dont connect to a different internet, youre on social media right now.
• fsflover 1y ago
  > There is no technological solution to this. Of course there is, even if it's not for everyone. You can abandon the profit-seeking duopoly and embrace GNU/Linux on smartphones. No tracking, no invasive apps or notifications. Works for me (except HN).